Lightweight luggage



Feb 26, 1957 J, EBER 2,782,889

LIGHTWEIGHT LUGGAGE Filed July 8, 1955 ATTUR/VEY nited States Patent .0

LIGHTWEIGHT LUGGAGE Jack Eber, Bronx, N. Y.

Application July 8, 1955, Serial No. 520,781

2 Claims. (Cl. 190-28) This invention relates to the construction oflightweight luggage, more particularly, luggage which can be produced ata material saving in labor costs, thus effecting an outstanding savingin the ultimate selling price of the luggage. Still more particularly,the invention deals with a luggage structure, wherein the outer sidecase parts are of identical construction and moulded or formed fromsuitable impact resistant lightweight material and joined withsubstantially similar intermediate sections forming the open endportions of the resulting case halves.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view, diagrammatically showing the four primaryparts of luggage made according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the parts shown in assembledrelationship, omitting the showing of any finishing or trimmingmaterial; and

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification.

In constructing luggage according to my conception, I employ two similarouter side case parts 10, and, for purposes of description in thepresent showing, the part 10 can be regarded as the upper part and 10the lower part.

In the construction shown, the parts 10, 10 are dishshaped in form andare moulded, pressed or otherwise formed from plastic, fiberglass orother suitable impact resistant materials, each part comprising an outerwall 11, 11' and angular peripheral walls 12, 12', the walls 12, I2joining the walls 11, 11' in rounded corners 13, 13', as clearly notedin Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The luggage or case also includes two substantially similar intermediateframe parts 14 and 15 which, in the construction shown, are generallyO-shaped and hollow in form and can be fashioned from any suitablematerial. In some instances, these may comprise lightweight metalframes, plastic frames or plywood frames. The frame 14 has a groove 16for receiving the edge portion of the wall 12 so that outer surfaces ofthe wall 12 and frame 14 are in common alinement. The lower surface ofthe frame 14 has a groove 17 adapted to receive a projecting flange 18on the frame 15. In stating this in another manner, the groove 17 formsa flange 19 on the frame 14, which enters a groove 20 in the frame 15.This latter construction also maintains outer surfaces of the frames 14and 15 in common alinement. The frame 15 has, at its other edge, agroove 21 for receiving the wall 12' of the part 11'. The walls 12, 12'can be secured to the frames 14, 15, respectively, adhesively or by theuse of stitching or a combination of stitching and gluing can beutilized, depending entirely upon the finish desired in the resultingluggage. In some instances, the

ice

I presence of stitching enhances the appearance of the inggage.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown modified forms of frames 22, 23adapted for use in conjunction with case parts, similar to the parts 10,10'. The frames 14 and 15 are of a heavier wall structure; Whereas, theframes 23 and 24 are of one thickness and shaped to form a groove 16,similar to the groove 16 and 21, similar to the groove 21 for receptionof the side walls 12, 12' of the parts 10, 10' and the frame 23 includesa groove 20, generally similar to the groove 20 for reception of thefree edge of the frame 22. The frames 22 and 23 can be formed fromlightweight metal, plastics or similar material. The case parts of thestructure shown in Fig. 3 can be assembled in the same manner as thecase parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

With luggage of the kind under consideration, it will be apparent thatthe luggage can be shaped to produce any particular style of luggage andthe parts 10, 10 can be in contrasting colors with respect to the parts14, 15, as well as 22, 23, thus producing luggage of very attractiveapearance. No showing is made of the finishing materials commonlyemployed in luggage of the kind under consideration, as these materialsand parts are of standard and well-known construction and are notessential for a complete understanding of the present invention.

It will be apparent that, when the separate parts of each case half aresecured together, these parts will be substantially identical inconstruction, the case parts separating at the grooves 20, 20', as willbe apparent. The case parts 10, 10', as well as the frame parts 14, 15,are all substantially of the same depth; thus, in the assembled luggage,two halves of the same depth are provided.

By constructing luggage in accordance with the procedure mentionedabove, it will be apparent that a tremendous saving in labor in formingand fabricating the luggage halves is effected, which saving can bepassed on to the ultimate purchaser. The resulting luggage will be lightin weight, strong and durable in use and, aside from the usual fittings,the exterior of the luggage will be clear and unobstructed throughout,producing a very neat and finished appearance.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In luggage of the character described, a pair of similar outerone-piece cast parts, each part comprising an outer wall and' aperipheral wall disposed angularly to the outer wall, a pair ofsubstantially similar O-shaped one-piece hollow frames, one edge of eachframe having a groove at the outer surface thereof to receive the freeedge portions of the peripheral walls of said cast parts and secured tosaid frames with outer surfaces of the case parts and frames flush, theother edge portion of one of said frames having a groove on its outersurface to receive a part at the adjacent edge of the other frame influshly alining the outer surfaces of the frames one with respect to theother when the case parts, including the frames, are in closed position,and the case parts and frames being all of substantially the same depth.

2. In luggage of the character described, a pair of similar outerone-piece cast parts, each part comprising an outer wall and aperipheral wall disposed angularly to the outer wall, a pair ofsubstantially similar O-shaped one-piece hollow frames, one edge of eachframe having a groove at the outer surface thereof to receive the freeedge portions of the peripheral walls of said cast parts and secured tosaid frames with outer surfaces of the case parts and frames flush, theother edge portion of one of said frames having a groove on its outersurface to receive a part at the adjacent edge of the other frame infiushly alining the outer surfaces of the frames one References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 792,731 ,Romunder June 20,890,480 Winans June 9, 1,950,118 Lifton Mar. 6, 2,510,643 Long June 6,2,573,036 Luft Oct. 30,

